COMANCHE – The Class 1A Division II No. 4 Richland Springs Coyotes raced out to a 22-0 lead, fell behind the Sidney Eagles 27-22, then rallied for a 50-37 Region IV-1A Division II bi-district championship victory here Friday night.
With the win over District 15 runner-up Sidney (7-4), District 16 champion Richland Springs (11-0) advances to face District 13 second seed Bronte (4-7) – which knocked off District 14 champion Rising Star (8-3) by a 36-20 count Friday – in the regional semifinals this weekend.
The Coyotes generated 287 yards of total offense – 178 on the ground and 109 through the air – Friday night against the Eagle defense.
Billy Perry led the charge for Richland Springs as he rushed for 86 yards and four touchdowns and completed 5 of 7 passes for 110 yards and three more scores. Hutton Rogers caught two passes, both touchdowns, totaling 61 yards, while Jayden Sutherland led the team with three receptions for 26 yards and scored once.
Gage Behrens chipped in 48 yards on the ground, Cohen Ethridge rushed for 44 yards and Rush Norris hauled in a 22-yard reception.
Defensively, Kenny Triplett recorded game-high 9 tackles and a forced fumble for Richland Springs, followed by Perry with 7 tackles with 1 for loss, and Behrens with 6 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery. Ethridge and Hudson Tharp each added 5 tackles, Jim Eckermann tallied 4.5 tackles, Sutherland finished with 4 tackles, Rogers recorded 3.5 tackles, and Norris logged 3 tackles.
